1 cup vinegar to 1 gal water/clean equip

macronut · 02/03/2008, 12:33 PM

I know this has been asked before and I can't find the thread so I am asking again. Isn't it a 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gal of water to clean equipment that has built up c. algae?

RA · 02/03/2008, 12:59 PM

That sounds close enough to me.

macronut · 02/03/2008, 01:00 PM

Thank you RA

Logzor · 02/03/2008, 01:03 PM

I am gona piggyback on this post. How easy is it to wash the vinegar off?

Just cleaned with this solution over a 3 day period. Then, I took them out and scrubbed and sprayed all the parts down in the shower. Next, I let my powerheads run in tap water for a few hours.

I hope they were safe, because they are now mixing some saltwater for me. Did I wash the vinegar off enough?

wrott · 02/03/2008, 01:21 PM

Use straight vinegar, it's like 3-5% acetic acid--very dilute, and a little bit of Ca(CO3)2 will neutralize it.

AZDesertRat · 02/03/2008, 01:36 PM

Straight white vinegar. Its cheap at $1.50 to $2 a gallon and can be reused over and over if you don't dilute it. I run it through a paper towel, paint filter or panty hose and put it back in the bottle. One gallon lasts me a year or more that way and still has good strength. Diluting it raises the pH which defeats the purpose.

ostrow · 02/03/2008, 03:14 PM

Vinegar I do not dilute. Heck, I don't always dilute muriatic acid (but I should). Sometimes I get ticked off that the buildup doesn't come off so I blast it with pure muriatic. That usually does the trick! (wear a mask though and gloves!)

sjm817 · 02/03/2008, 03:32 PM

Non diluted white vinegar.

02/03/2008, 12:33 PM	#1
macronut Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 405	1 cup vinegar to 1 gal water/clean equip I know this has been asked before and I can't find the thread so I am asking again. Isn't it a 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gal of water to clean equipment that has built up c. algae?

02/03/2008, 01:21 PM	#5
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Use straight vinegar, it's like 3-5% acetic acid--very dilute, and a little bit of Ca(CO3)2 will neutralize it. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

02/03/2008, 03:14 PM	#7
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Vinegar I do not dilute. Heck, I don't always dilute muriatic acid (but I should). Sometimes I get ticked off that the buildup doesn't come off so I blast it with pure muriatic. That usually does the trick! (wear a mask though and gloves!) __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

02/03/2008, 03:32 PM	#8
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Non diluted white vinegar. __________________ - Scott

02/03/2008, 12:59 PM	#2
RA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: S. Jersey Posts: 976	That sounds close enough to me.

02/03/2008, 01:00 PM	#3
macronut Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 405	Thank you RA

02/03/2008, 01:03 PM	#4
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	I am gona piggyback on this post. How easy is it to wash the vinegar off? Just cleaned with this solution over a 3 day period. Then, I took them out and scrubbed and sprayed all the parts down in the shower. Next, I let my powerheads run in tap water for a few hours. I hope they were safe, because they are now mixing some saltwater for me. Did I wash the vinegar off enough?

02/03/2008, 01:36 PM	#6
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Straight white vinegar. Its cheap at $1.50 to $2 a gallon and can be reused over and over if you don't dilute it. I run it through a paper towel, paint filter or panty hose and put it back in the bottle. One gallon lasts me a year or more that way and still has good strength. Diluting it raises the pH which defeats the purpose.